assignment on trailers

Level 2 Film Trailer Presentation and AnalysisBy Ashley Norman

Film Trailer 1: James Cameron’s Avatar

Target Audience The age group I think the product is

targeted for is teenagers and young adults aged 14 – 25. The sci-fi, adventure side appeals to the males of the audience. While the drama side appeals to the females. It not only creates a new environment new to the viewer but also shows it in such a way as to gain a larger audience.

Platform & Formats

The product could be distributed by TV, which is quite common. Most likely be placed near show that are similar as people who watch that show are more then likely going to watch Avatar. Another method of TV distribution would be placing the trailer near popular shows, the cost is higher but for such an original idea it could play out well. Another means of distributing the product would be advertising in the films produced by the same production company. A chance to advertise in the cinema and DVD.

Film Trailer: James Cameron’s Avatar

Atmosphere The atmosphere presented in the

trailer tells me it’s something new and adventurous. Humans are filled with curiosity, it’s one of our strong emotions that plays a part in everything that we do. From this, it’s curiosity that plays a part in seeing something new that plays a key role in gaining its audience. Lots of areas of land are shown that are unfamiliar to the viewer. Our curiosity makes us want to know more. This alone is great for the trailer.

Music The music is placed as to give a more

lively feel. As a sci-fi this can’t be taken literarily. However, giving something emotions or an emotive side can make it seem more real to watch. While Avatar takes the sci-fi role in the genre of its convention it does not initially suit the proposed genre. The music rivals between drama and adventure. It gives the audience the sense that it’s something new to be accurate, they are unable to determine weather or not it’s a drama by looking at the trailer. However, can easily relate to it being a sci-fi.


Special effects Exterior areas of the landscape are

bright but not so bright, as to give it a sense of realism. It allows the audience to relate more easily to the trailer. Giving that sounds such as plane crafts landing or various forms of machines operating is mostly aimed for a target audience rather then applying it to the characters. Reason to use these effects are to again give it a sense of realism for the audience as the brain is able to understand what is happening and relate it to events more easily.

Props The humans use various forms of heavily

armored advance technology such as space stations, crafts, robot suits and guns. Also machines such as genetic cloning. The aspects confirm they are a military compound. Heavily armed, this confirms hostility is followed for them on the planet. The landscape is mostly computer generated and less prop for the most of it. This can be confirmed by the amount of detail. The Na’vi are shown using more primitive forms of weaponry such as bows and knives to do their work. It gives the audience a sense that they are an intelligent being and the can lead and learn.


Background The background is green screened

computer terrain as no location on earth comes close to representing the proposed environment. Not to mention that earth locations are much more easier to relate to for the audience a new environment works better.

Camera Angles There are quite a lot of long shots and

extreme long shots used throughout the trailer, put there to give the audience something catchy to look at. Various shots of the computer generated content from the distances makes the audience curiosity spike, Emotive shots are used with close ups for the audience to understand how they feel, as conventional for films. The shots from behind the hub is most likely used to signify ‘Out with the old, in with the new.’ The frame shots slow once the Avatar is shown. Gives the audience a longer time to observe the effects used in the production of the film.


Cast/Company Logo “Twentieth Century Fox Film

Corporation.” From films such as willy wonka, liked that? Try this! Made by the director of Titanic. Confirms drama included in the film. Also gives the audience something to relate to. Given that those who watch Titanic are going to watch for the directors work and the sci-fi genre attracts an audience of its own, it reached to a vast area of profit.

Purpose The trailer was made mostly to

promote the actual movie. It was developed in a sense of already piling up an audience/ fan base for the film. The more hipped the people got, the more audience it would deliver.


Characters The roles portrayed in the trailer are

scientists and military. Suggests a research and development compound. They all look quite serious in what the do, each well trained and armed. The Na’vi seem more flexible and relaxed then the humans. May have to do with the fact they are more adaptive to the environment.

Film Trailer 2:Annabelle

Target Audience The audience I think this product is

suited for is both males and females age 16 – 25. A vast amount of teenagers currently watch horror, it’s a great demographic audience to target for profit. So it makes sense to provide conventional content suited to the vast amount of audience.

Platform & Formats

The product could be distributed by TV, similar shows or ones that will gain an audience. Similarly, it could be placed in cinemas which are a great way to promote the film. Giving the amount of teenagers that watch horror it could stand to reason for the trailer to be placed near shows teenagers are likely to watch.

Film Trailer: Annabelle

Atmosphere The atmosphere is very

unpredictable. What we can’t predict scares us. Once the trailer has done this the film has done its job. People like being scared and given a taste of what the film offers is all it tales to build its audience. It doesn’t have to show any major plot twists, it only needs to provide the basics and the audience is already hooked.

Music The music presented in the trailer is a

visual yet non-diegetic sound that is used in a manner to give it a sense of normality for the viewer. Made of before or after event. The main associations that present in the genre are mostly done through visual effects. The music is suited to the genre in this manner as it isn’t initially new to look at. When you think of the audience the music sounds like it would belong to a drama which in horror in this sense makes sense and is conventional but only in the manner of which the film trailer was produced.


Special Effects A clock ticking gives us the impression

that it’s quiet. In this scenario it’s night. The sound of the door moving suggests a presence of paranormal activity. As this is abnormal to the viewer it don’t fit right in a realistic plot. However, for this it fits well. Various things that happen without explanation can scare an audience which is exactly what these kind of films do. Most of the sound used throughout the trailer is diegetic and can be heard by the cast. However, given the convention. Most of the sounds are ignored or unheard for various reasons.

Props The doll is given a menacing look as an

appearance. This allows the viewer to easily identify Annabelle from the other dolls. The reason why they chose this instead of a normal doll would be because it needs to be separated from the others, they could have picked a more natural doll. Which would have been scary given that you wouldn’t have known it was dangerous. In a video game normal looking dolls work well scaring the player. However, in films knowing who the antagonist is grips the audience in to something to watch instead of spending their time thinking it through.


Background The area chosen gives an almost

natural feel to the film. It’s based in a real environment housing district. Just added effects to give it a more sinister feel to work from. The horror is a prequel to ‘The Conjuring’ so in this sense it would be in the same environment. It also scares people more to bring it in to real life events then fantasy as people can relate to real life events more the fantasy. The film is set around the modern times possible 1990’s – 2010. Evidence supported would be the level of technology, clothing and props.

Camera Angles Close up of the doll used quite

regularly even knowing it doesn’t express any emotion. The reason this is used, is to make the doll the centre of attention. The camera is also facing a slight up shot on the doll giving use the impression that it is powerful. It’s a way of informing us that the doll is most important to this film and more powerful then any of the others. Quite a lot of long shots are used when filming paranormal events, these play a part in that they are conventionally used to display changes in the environment.


Cast/Company Logo Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line

Cinema’s logo promote and give an audience for the film. “From producer James Wan.” Seen any of his other films, come and see this kind of thing. A list that gives credit to the developers and promotes them for future projects. “New Line Cinema presents an ATOMIC MONSTER/ SAFRAN COMPANY production “Annabelle”

Purpose The trailer was developed with the

intension of gaining an audience before the release of the product. It gives short glimpses of the film that makes the audience want to go and see it.


Characters The cast represents your typical

normal family. The mother and father move homes and settle down with their young. There is nothing abnormal about this family based on the trailer. However, events may change whom they currently are.

Film Trailer 3: Into theWoods

Target Audience The audience I think the trailer is

aimed for is teenage girls 15 -20. Mostly because of the content, its fantasy based with a dramatic feel. The content although admired by a small audience of guys, the content was not specifically developed for guys.

Platform & Formats

The platform the product is suited for currently as a new production film would be cinema as the most dominant. It promotes the cinema and allows to gain immediate profit from the audience. TV advertisement is an alternative for promoting the film as it reaches out to a wide audience.

Film Trailer: Into the Woods

Atmosphere The atmosphere is very predictable.

It’s magical and understandable. It resembles a much darker version of the children's stories, Jack and The Giant Beanstalk, Little Red Ridding Hood are examples of this and recreate them in a more realistic manner. The audience would think this as a new concept on already thought ideas and interests them to want and go and see it.

Music The music uses a variety of

instruments and confirms it’s a musical by the voice synced to the beat. This informs the audience it is in some way musical and consists of drama. The audience would easily be able to identify this as a musical by listening to the trailer alone.


Special Effects The lighting is quite bright in the trailer.

This suggests it is appropriate for a younger audience and that it takes a less dangerous side to the story. The sound of the door braking informs the audience that its linked to the ‘I wish’ reference previously said in the trailer. It informs them that something in going to happen. Bright lighting in used from the door to create a presence of hope /to reference ‘light’ as an element. The music is diegetic and non-diegetic at the same time. The characters are aware of its being, although it isn't really there. They even interact with it in groups. This could very from scene to scene depending if an instrument is present on screen.

Props Fantasy based clothing suited to the

fairy tales. Red Hood, Magic Beans. So on… The cloths along make it a less serious thing to watch. Its slightly unrealistic and unnatural. The level of technology looks very primitive, castles governed by kings who rule over cities. Suggests knights, catapults, spears, sword, any form of medieval technology and weaponry with a slight twist of magic.


Background The areas chosen green screened

and natural areas that display content appropriate to the film. Various effects are used such as the growth of trees which can not be physically done, this can only be done by editing it in. This helps the audience to easily relate and understand the genre.

Camera Angles Long shots are used when traveling

from one area to another. This allows the audience to make sense of what they’re doing. Lots of medium shots are used when the cast almost faces the camera but instead looks past it. This references that they are talking to someone else personally. Long upper shots used to give it a mighty and powerful appearance when door brakes. Gives the audience the impression that that person is powerful.


Cast/Company Logo Use of the Disney logo alone

promotes the film to a large audience. People believe Disney to be a good developer and for this reason alone, not to mention the success of previous production work. Cast members promote the film from people who recognize the actor and to see more of his/her films. Credited support at the end of the trailer gives credit and reason to go and see more of these peoples work and promote their work in the process.

Purpose The trailer promotes the film to an

audience before the release. This allows an already supportive fan base to be set up ready for the release. Once one person has heard about it they will tell others and an even bigger fan base will rise.


Characters The characters dress unrealistically

and fantasy like. Their personalities are quite comical and straight to the point. As a musical this is not uncommon. You can expect lots of emotion and over exaggeration as the trailer is for a musical. It doesn’t have to be exactly as if it was real, also in musicals people can wear colours that mean various things. Red Riding Hood wears a red cape that signifies danger.

assignment on trailers

Education

film trailer presentation

larger audience

new environment new

scifi role

sense of realism

music rivals

primitive forms of weaponry

plane crafts